Dead animals found under Va. bridge weren’t domestic

Loudoun County Animal Services says none of the animals left skinned and under a bridge last month was domesticated. For example, none was a dog – they were all wildlife.

The investigation is closed by Loudoun County Animal Services. However, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will continue its investigation.

In total, 78 animal carcasses were found.

EARLIER: Nov. 23, 2013 5:19 p.m.

WASHINGTON – A man made a grisly discovery in Catoctin Creek this week – dozens of dead, skinned animals piled under a bridge.

NBC4 first reported that construction worker Dave Daley, who was working nearby, found two piles of animals under a single-lane bridge off Featherbed Lane in Lovettsville earlier this week. One pile contained what appeared to be 27 small animals, possibly dogs; the other, mostly deer and livestock. He called Loudoun County Animal Services.

Loudoun County Animal Services says it received a complaint of the skinned, carcases Tuesday. Based on initial necropsy results, only one of the carcases was a dog. And an animal cruelty investigation is underway.

The remainder of the animals were determined to be wildlife including racoons and foxes.

Both the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Health Department were contacted. And a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality staffer visited the site Saturday morning to make arrangements to clean up and remove the animal remains.